New iPhone: Dual cameras in and mute button out?

New images purportedly of the forthcoming iPhone 7 have been leaked on Chinese social media – and they reveal some intriguing new developments for the perennially popular smartphone.

A redesigned camera and a slightly different look are the main differences visible in the posts – although some fans may be disappointed at the lack of a truly radical overhaul.

The images were caught in China and posted to the social network Weibo, in addition to being obtained by Dutch blog TechTastic.

A rose gold-hued rear case is shown – and the camera lens is much larger than that of the current iteration of the iPhone.

The rear also reveals a new dual camera setup and a smart connector that many thought would have been introduced with the 2015 iPhone, but did not materialise.

Another distinction is that the logo is presented slightly differently. Instead of a black Apple symbol, there is an engraving in the centre of the case. However, there are no discernible differences on the front of the handset.

Antenna bands cover the edge of the handset, rather than running across the device, as is the case on the iPhone 6s. Also, the traditional mute button seems to have been removed altogether, as it is not present on any of the sides.

Apple typically launches its new iPhones every September – and while there has been no official confirmation of this yet, neither has there been any indication to the contrary.

It is expected there will be three variants of the latest model – the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7 Pro.

New A10 processors are expected on the main release, while there is thought to be a 3GB increase in RAM on the larger variety to accommodate new camera hardware.